Despite a crushing defeat, ESPN’s veteran commentator Paul Finebaum hasn’t completely written off the Texas Longhorns in the race for the College Football Playoff. That said, he acknowledges that head coach Steve Sarkisian’s squad is barely holding on to any realistic opportunity.
Appearing on a recent episode of The Matt Barrie Show following Texas’ 35-10 drubbing at the hands of Georgia, Finebaum described the setback as a major setback for the team’s tournament ambitions. The Longhorns dropped to 7-3 overall, with this lopsided result marking their worst performance of the season by a wide margin.
“I think Texas has got a long shot now,” Finebaum said.
“Even beating A&M, that loss to Georgia is going to haunt them like the Oklahoma loss did to Alabama a year ago, because it was so late and so bad.”
Finebaum outlined a narrow roadmap for Texas, starting with a potential upset victory over third-ranked Texas A&M in their final regular-season matchup. Such an outcome might be feasible if the Longhorns encounter the same vulnerable Aggies squad that managed only three points in the opening half of their weekend clash against South Carolina.
Playing on their home turf could provide an edge, as the intense atmosphere poses its own difficulties for visitors. Yet Finebaum emphasized that a win over the Aggies wouldn’t erase the sting of the recent blowout, which the playoff selection committee is unlikely to ignore. This comes on the heels of Georgia previously being dominated by Florida in a game that led to the Gators parting ways with coach Billy Napier.
Against the Bulldogs, Texas managed a mere 23 yards on the ground, leaving quarterback Arch Manning to shoulder a predictable passing game that failed to match Georgia’s output. In contrast, the Longhorns’ earlier defeat to top-ranked Ohio State came down to a single score, further highlighting how the Georgia thrashing deviates from the norm.
With powerhouses like Texas A&M, Georgia, Alabama, and Ole Miss all vying for playoff berths, Finebaum pointed out that securing a fifth spot from the SEC would require substantial outside assistance for any additional team.
Right now, he views programs with two losses, including Oklahoma and Vanderbilt, as having more straightforward routes to consideration than Texas. Tiebreakers based on direct matchups will play a critical role in any discussion about expanding SEC representation to five teams in the 12-team field.
Finebaum refrained from pronouncing the Longhorns’ season over. Still, he made it clear that their prospects remain precisely as he described: “a long shot.”
